Procedure Volume Patient Data Patient Conditions Reviews General Payments Back to Top

Home > CA Providers > Hand Surgeons

Dr. James J. Chao, MD

Accepting New Patients

(4 Ratings)

Specializes in: Hand Surgery and Plastic Surgery

New York University (NYU) School of Medicine (1993)

Professional interests include: maxillofacial (jaw and face) surgery, breast reconstruction, injections, and more.

200 W Arbor Drive Mail Code 8890
San Diego, CA 92103

(619) 543-2696

Dr. James J. Chao, MD is a hand surgeon in San Diego, CA specializing in hand surgery and plastic surgery. He graduated from New York University (NYU) School of Medicine in 1993 and has 33 years of experience. Dr. James J. Chao, MD is affiliated with Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp HealthCare, Sharp Memorial Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Health, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Optum Care Network SDPMG.

Office Locations

200 W Arbor Drive Mail Code 8890
San Diego, CA 92103

(619) 543-2696

open_in_new

Optum Care Network SDPMG

27699 Jefferson Avenue Suite 201
Temecula, CA 92590

1-844-627-4763

open_in_new

499 N El Camino Real Suite C-200
Encinitas, CA 92024

open_in_new

8901 Activity Road Suite 102
San Diego, CA 92126

open_in_new

Some issues Dr. James J. Chao, MD can help you with:

Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to remove excess tissue around the eyelids. With aging, skin loses elasticity. In some people, skin can pool around the eyes causing wrinkles, puffiness, under-eye bags, and drooping.

During a blepharoplasty, tiny incisions are made under local anesthesia, and any excess skin or underlying tissue is removed from the eyelids. The procedure takes between one and three hours, and patients may have bruising and swelling around their eyes for a few days afterwards. Icing the area may help.

The surgery is sometimes done along with other facial surgery as part of a facelift. Typically, a blepharoplasty is considered cosmetic. In severe cases, however, upper eyelids may droop so significantly that they make it hard to see. In these cases, blepharoplasty may be considered a necessary treatment.

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is surgery to restore the appearance of the breast, usually after a mastectomy. The choice of how to proceed after the removal of a breast is a deeply personal one, with some women opting to wear a prosthetic form in a bra, and others choosing to embrace their new breastless form as a reminder of their strength and survival. Those options are perfectly acceptable, but many women feel most comfortable with their missing breast tissue surgically replaced. Breast reconstruction can be part of a patient's return to normal after experiencing breast cancer.

There are a few different methods used to create the round shape of the breast on the chest. A flap of fat, skin, and muscle can be taken from the side, abdomen or buttock and implanted on the chest to create a breast from the patient's own tissue. Alternatively, the skin over the chest may be gradually stretched to allow for the placement of an implant. Stretching of the skin is done using expanders, which are similar to breast implants, except they increase in size when saltwater solution is injected into them. Many women also choose to combine the flap procedure with implant placement to achieve their desired result. Once the new breast shape is formed, a nipple can be created and even tattooed to match the other side.

Reconstruction may be done in a single surgery or broken up into multiple procedures:

Immediate reconstruction rebuilds the breast right after mastectomy. This method is not recommended if additional chemotherapy or radiation is needed after surgery.
Delayed reconstruction occurs after chemotherapy or radiation has been given. These treatments may decrease the volume or alter the color of the reconstructed breast, so they should be completed before the breast is rebuilt. This type of reconstruction may happen weeks, months, or even years after mastectomy.
Staged reconstruction splits the reconstructive process into two parts. The first part inserts temporary expanders to stretch the skin and is done immediately after breast removal surgery. The second part replaces the expanders with implants after chemotherapy or radiation treatments have been given.

Breast reconstruction is not perfect. The two breasts may not always look exactly identical, although they will be close. There may be small scars, and a loss of sensation in the reconstructed breast. A reconstructed breast will not produce milk, so patients may have trouble breastfeeding. Still, reconstruction is a great option for women who want that part of their appearance back.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion, also known as dermaplaning, uses a high-speed rotating device to scrape away outer layers of the skin and create a smoother surface. This surgical procedure is most commonly used on the face, but it may be performed on other parts of the body as well. It treats the following skin issues:

Raised scars due to accidents, previous surgery, or acne.
Deep wrinkles.
Skin growths, like precancerous lesions.

During dermabrasion, a nurse or other healthcare professional holds the skin taut so that the doctor can apply gentle but constant pressure on the skin using the device. Depending on how much skin needs treatment, it may take a few minutes to over an hour to complete the surgery.

A waxy or moist dressing is placed on the skin at the end of the procedure. The treated area will be red and swollen for about two to three weeks. Itchiness and tingling will likely be present for some time. Although less common, enlarged pores, cold sores, rashes, and permanent skin discoloration may also occur. Normal activities may be resumed about two weeks following dermabrasion. However, swimming in chlorinated water and sports that involve the use of balls should be avoided for four to six weeks.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“"The RDA of 0.8 grams per kilogram per day was established primarily to prevent muscle wasting and deficiency in younger adults," said Dr. James J. Chao, co-founder and chief medical officer at...”—"The common protein mistake people make after age 50 that's accelerating muscle loss", Fox News, March 2026

“Dr. James J. Chao, chief medical officer of VedaNu Wellness in San Diego, said FDA approval of GLP-1s for younger children is a question of "when" rather than "if."”—"Pediatric trials aim to expand GLP-1 weight loss drugs to younger children", The Washington Times, March 2026

“"Fewer signals are being sent to your brain to seek out pleasure, and sexual motivation just doesn t happen," explained Dr. James Chao, co-founder and chief medical officer of VedaNu Wellness in...”—"We lost weight on GLP-1 drugs - and then we lost our sex drives", New York Post, February 2026

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	108

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	62

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	25
Female	33

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	45
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	30
From 75 to 84	12
85 and over	0
Less than 65	16

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2013

Hypertension	50
High Cholesterol	38
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	0
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	0
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	19
Dementia	0
Cancer	19

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	102

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	28
Female	51

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	63
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	44
From 75 to 84	19
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2014

Hypertension	49
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	14
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	16
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	155

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	78
Female	156

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	190
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	126
From 75 to 84	58
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2015

Hypertension	53
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	30
Dementia	0
Cancer	17

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. James J. Chao, MD treated as a hand surgeon in San Diego, CA during 2016 were minimally invasive procedures, joint surgery and lower extremity surgery.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	62
joint surgery	11
lower extremity surgery	11
minimally invasive procedures	11

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	32
Female	77

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	91
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	66
From 75 to 84	19
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2016

Hypertension	52
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	30
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	15
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	22
Dementia	0
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	106

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	43
Female	63

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	89
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	56
From 75 to 84	23
85 and over	11
Less than 65	16

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2017

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	42
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	25
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	35
Dementia	13
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. James J. Chao, MD treated as a hand surgeon in San Diego, CA during 2018 were aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	23
doctor visit	167
injections	23

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	41
Female	52

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	76
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	50
From 75 to 84	30
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2018

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	34
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	24
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	17
Dementia	12
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. James J. Chao, MD treated as a hand surgeon in San Diego, CA during 2019 were aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	29
doctor visit	166
injections	29

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	44
Female	60

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	91
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	52
From 75 to 84	35
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2019

Hypertension	46
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	25
Dementia	12
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. James J. Chao, MD treated as a hand surgeon in San Diego, CA during 2020 were aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	22
doctor visit	145
injections	22

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	51
Female	48

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	80
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	59
From 75 to 84	26
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2020

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	36
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	29
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. James J. Chao, MD treated as a hand surgeon in San Diego, CA during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	123
hospital care	25
inpatient care	25

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	42
Female	70

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	92
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	67
From 75 to 84	25
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2021

Hypertension	61
High Cholesterol	55
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	35
Depression	25
Chronic Kidney Disease	36
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	14
Heart Failure	22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	26
Dementia	16
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. James J. Chao, MD treated as a hand surgeon in San Diego, CA during 2022 were aspiration and injections.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

aspiration	14
doctor visit	166
injections	14

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	44
Female	82

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	96
Black	0
Hispanic	11
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	55
From 75 to 84	47
85 and over	12
Less than 65	12

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD in 2022

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	27
Depression	23
Chronic Kidney Disease	21
Asthma	17
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	17
Heart Failure	21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	14
Diabetes	25
Dementia	0
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. James J. Chao, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. James J. Chao, MD treated as a hand surgeon in San Diego, CA were hospital care, inpatient care, aspiration and injections.

aspiration	22
doctor visit	123
hospital care	25
injections	22
inpatient care	25
joint surgery	11
lower extremity surgery	11
minimally invasive procedures	11

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD.

**Gender**
Male	38
Female	62

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	83
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	1
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	26
85 and over	2
Less than 65	4
65 to 74	55

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. James J. Chao, MD From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. James J. Chao, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease and diabetes.

Hypertension	51
High Cholesterol	47
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	5
Osteoporosis	5
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	6
Diabetes	22
Atrial Fibrillation	6
Dementia	4
Cancer	7

Education & Training

Dr. James J. Chao, MD graduated from New York University (NYU) School of Medicine in 1993. He completed residency at New York University (NYU) Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the Board Certified and has a state license in California.

Medical School: New York University (NYU) School of Medicine (1993)

Residency: New York University (NYU) Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: Board Certified

Licensed In: California

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. James J. Chao, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Sharp HealthCare

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla

Scripps Health

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas

Sharp Grossmont Hospital

Optum Care Network SDPMG

Insurance Information

Please note: Insurance information may change at any time, and the provider may accept your insurance plan even if it is not listed below. Please contact the provider's office to confirm that your insurance is accepted.

Dr. James J. Chao, MD appears to accept the following insurance providers: Cigna, TRICARE, Aetna, Blue Shield of California, Self-Pay/Uninsured, Anthem, UnitedHealthcare, First Health and Health Net.

Insurance Accepted by Provider includes:

According to our sources, Dr. James J. Chao, MD accepts the following insurance providers:

Cigna

TRICARE

Aetna

Blue Shield of California

Self-Pay/Uninsured

Anthem

UnitedHealthcare

First Health

Health Net

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. James J. Chao, MD has an average of 2.0 out of 5 stars based on 4 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. James J. Chao, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in San Diego, CA.

Overall Rating

(4 Ratings)

Leave a Review

General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. James J. Chao, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Boston Scientific Corporation	$362,948 SPECTRA WAVEWRITER $70,051	PAIN MANAGEMENT $40,917	GENERAL PAIN MANAGEMENT $31,253	GENERAL - THERAPIES $28,898	OTHER- BSC PRODUCT NOT LISTED $23,322	Other $168,506
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.	$120,285 BIO-A Tissue Reinforcement $52,930	SYNECOR Biomaterial $24,827	Product in Development $19,404	BIO A Tissue Reinforcement $10,330	BIOA Tissue Reinforcement $6,317	Other $6,477
Novus Scientific Inc.	$85,000 $85,000
Ethicon Inc.	$9,886 Other#NA $5,250	STRATAFIX $3,904	Endoscopy# Endocutters $648	Sutures $84
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.	$8,165 STRATAFIX $7,547	DERMABOND Portfolio $414	SURGICEL Family of Absorbable Hemostats $203
Other	$30,473 Ovitex $5,594	DERMACELL $2,403	DSUVIA $2,038	Other/NA $1,500	OviTex Reinforced Bioscaffold With Permanent Polymer (OviTex) $1,445	Other $17,493

**Types of Payments**
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$242,460
Consulting Fee	$193,336
Honoraria	$83,105
Travel and Lodging	$62,796
Food and Beverage	$34,034
Other	$1,027

Biography

Dr. James Chao's areas of specialization are plastic surgery and hand surgery; he sees patients in San Diego, CA, Encinitas, CA, and Temecula, CA. Dr. Chao has received a 2.0 out of 5 star rating by his patients. Areas of expertise for Dr. Chao include tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), surgical repair, and dermabrasion. He is affiliated with Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, and Sharp Grossmont Hospital. Blue Shield, Health Net, and Anthem seem to be the insurance carriers that Dr. Chao accepts. Sharp HealthCare reports that Dr. Chao is accepting new patients at his office in San Diego, CA. His education and training includes medical school at New York University (NYU) School of Medicine and the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine and residency at a hospital affiliated with New York University (NYU). He is conversant in Mandarin.